Ashtons Bwood ad provokes racism debate

Ashton Kutcher, for whom the new year has hardly been good from a public relations standpoint, has now been surrounded by a racism storm after donning "brown face" makeup for a money-spinning appearance in a crisps commercial.

Ashton Kutcher, for whom the new year has hardly been good from a public relations standpoint, has now been surrounded by a racism storm after donning "brown face" makeup for a money-spinning appearance in a crisps commercial.

The 34-year-old actor appears as Raj, a "39-year-old Bollywood producer looking for love" in the advert for PopChips.In the dating themed film he says he is looking for "the most delicious thing on the planet", as well as indulging in appropriately cheesy Bollywood parodying dancing.

The 34-year-old actor appears as Raj, a "39-year-old Bollywood producer looking for love" in the advert for PopChips.In the dating themed film he says he is looking for "the most delicious thing on the planet", as well as indulging in appropriately cheesy Bollywood parodying dancing.

Of course he soon finds it in the form of the low-fat potato snack, but the fact the Hollywood star saw fit to dress up in stereotypical garb and put on an Indian accent has drawn the wrath of many on the internet, including Indian-descended rap group Das Racist.

Of course he soon finds it in the form of the low-fat potato snack, but the fact the Hollywood star saw fit to dress up in stereotypical garb and put on an Indian accent has drawn the wrath of many on the internet, including Indian-descended rap group Das Racist. (Reuters)

Blogger and entrepreneur Anil Dash also wrote a lengthy entry on his website about his disgust at the advert. "It's a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement featuring Kutcher in brownface talking about his romantic options, with the entire punchline being that he's doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice. That's it, there's seriously no other gag," Dash said.

Blogger and entrepreneur Anil Dash also wrote a lengthy entry on his website about his disgust at the advert. "It's a hackneyed, unfunny advertisement featuring Kutcher in brownface talking about his romantic options, with the entire punchline being that he's doing it in a fake-Indian outfit and voice. That's it, there's seriously no other gag," Dash said. (AFP)

"I can't imagine I have to explain this to anyone in 2012, but if you find yourself putting brown makeup on a white person in 2012 so they can do a bad "funny" accent in order to sell potato chips, you are on the wrong course," he said.

"I can't imagine I have to explain this to anyone in 2012, but if you find yourself putting brown makeup on a white person in 2012 so they can do a bad "funny" accent in order to sell potato chips, you are on the wrong course," he said. (Reuters)